"For unity and integrity of India and following secular ideology, we will continue our fight under SP national president Akhilesh Yadav ," state Samajwadi Party chief Naresh Uttam told a press conference addressed jointly with Raj Babbar. "The country's secular fabric will become stronger when Akhilesh Yadav becomes the chief minister again," Uttam said. "Keeping these factors in mind, Congress leadership agreed to strike an alliance to thwart BJP's divisive politics and at the same time boost secularism and promote communal and social harmony. We share many common ideologies," he said, adding both the parties believed in social justice and development, peace and good atmosphere.The alliance was said to have materialised after Congress president Sonia Gandhi intervened. Discussion was at highest level- b/w CM (UP), GS I/C (Ghulam Nabi Azad) & Priyanka Gandhi.

Source: Times of India January 22, 2017 15:31 UTC